By Passant Hisham and Faten Omar

KUWAIT: With the gradual pullout of more than a dozen global airlines — particularly major European carriers — from Kuwait in recent years, travel has become more challenging for residents. As the summer season approaches, many are reporting higher ticket costs, fewer direct flight options and a growing reliance on less convenient transit routes through regional hubs such as Doha and Dubai, operated by neighboring airlines.

Travel difficulties have reached a point where some frequent travelers have decided to postpone their planned summer holiday altogether. “Some flights have layovers of over six to eight hours, which is exhausting and affects the travel experience.” frequent traveler Talal Al-Fadhli said.

“I was planning to visit a few countries in Europe, but even budget airlines were unusually expensive. I tried switching airlines to avoid long stopovers, but either the prices were very high, or the airline services were not good options.”

A travel consultant at a local agency, Mohamed Moustafa, says the rise in prices stems from reduced competition in the market. “When these major airlines leave, competition drops and fares go up,” he said. “Even neighboring airlines are expensive now because demand is high and supply is low.” Before pulling out of Kuwait, these European carriers connected travelers to key transit airports like Frankfurt and Amsterdam. He explained that with fewer choices available, ticket prices naturally increased.

Disrupting Eid plans

The absence of major international carriers has not only affected summer travel, but also intensified pressure during peak periods like Eid.

“Ticket prices have gone up by about 90 percent during Eid due to increased demand,” an employee from a local budget airline explained. “With fewer direct routes, travelers are forced to book longer and expensive flights with other airlines.”

Shahrookh Khan Pathan, another frequent traveler, shared his frustration over how much Eid airfare has increased compared to last year. “Ticket prices during Eid are much higher. The last time I flew with a local airline from Kuwait and back, it cost around KD 100 to 120,” he said. “But just yesterday, I checked, and the same route was over KD 220.”

The sharp rise forced Pathan and his family to cancel their travel plans. “We wanted to celebrate with our loved ones, but these prices are just not manageable,” he said.

He added that regional competitors weren’t much better, with fares jumping from KD 90–100 to more than KD 175. “And these tickets don’t even come with basic things like meals,” he said. “Even the cheaper options have layovers that last more than 12 hours. Who wants to spend their Eid stuck in an airport lounge?”

Local options

Following the exit of international airlines from Kuwait, the national airline has become the sole option for direct flights to certain European destinations, but the pricey fares continue to be a barrier for many travelers.

Still, it offers unique advantages that are often overlooked, Moustafa said. “The national airline’s policies are much more flexible than most regional competitors,” he said. “It has clear, customer-friendly policies. For example, if you book a non-refundable ticket but had to change your travel plans, you can reschedule your flight within two years of the original booking. That gives travelers peace of mind.” The reasonable cancellation policies and generous baggage allowance make it a good choice, he said.

An insider from the national carrier, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered some insight into why the airline’s prices may be higher than others: Despite partial private ownership, the airline operates under a government-based business model. “It’s not purely profit-driven like private carriers,” the source said. “If it were, you’d probably see cost cuts—maybe cheaper tickets, but at the expense of hotel standards for pilots, onboard service quality, and staff conditions.”

Moustafa pointed out that while many airlines have left Kuwait, overall travel demand from Kuwait remains strong. The current situation has created opportunities for local airlines. With fewer competitors, demand for local carriers has risen, prompting them to introduce more promotions and special offers. “Sometimes surprise discounts are released that significantly reduce ticket prices,” he said.

Eyes on the new terminal

Despite the discounts, regional competitors remain the cheaper option for some destinations, attracting more travelers. Moustafa emphasized that expanding fleet capacity and launching direct routes to more destinations could help local airlines reclaim this market share and better serve the growing demand.

With the new Kuwait International Airport Terminal 2 project underway, Moustafa’s suggestion could soon become reality. One of the engineers involved in the project told Kuwait Times that the airport is expected to attract more international airlines once operational. Designed to handle 25 million passengers annually, the terminal is set to become a major regional hub.

“Once the new terminal opens, we’ll see more flights, which means lower ticket prices and increased passenger traffic. That ripple effect will uplift the entire tourism and aviation sector in Kuwait,” said Moustafa. Although the project has faced some delays, the engineer confirmed that completion is now expected by 2026. Construction is progressing, with work being carried out on the third package, which includes the runway and operational facilities.

In the meantime, the budget airline employee said it’s introducing new European destinations this summer, a move that has received strong positive feedback from travelers and could help fill the void left by the departing European carriers.

Moustafa explained that with this move, people are starting to consider new travel destination like Krakow and Zakopane in Poland. Russia’s popularity has also been on the rise for about two years now, he added. Other trending destinations include Cyprus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Finance signed two separate agreements on Sunday with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The agreements aim to support regional financial cooperation and enhance economic integration among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Noura Al-Fassam, affirmed in a press statement following the signings that the ministry is committed to strengthening economic collaboration within the GCC and providing all necessary means to achieve deeper economic integration among member states.

Minister Al-Fassam represented Kuwait in the signing ceremonies. Representing Saudi Arabia was Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan. The agreement with Saudi Arabia focuses on coordination on financial issues at both regional and international levels, and includes areas such as the development of financial policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks to serve mutual interests.

The Qatari side was represented by Minister of Finance Ali Al-Kuwari. The agreement with Qatar addresses the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion. It also aims to facilitate investments, enhance capital flows, and align tax policies between the two countries. Additionally, the agreement includes provisions for tax exemptions and reductions on profits and interest, offers preferential treatment for government investment entities, and outlines mechanisms for the mutual settlement of future tax disputes between the two brotherly nations. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The official visit of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and his accompanying delegation to Kuwait Sunday carries special significance in the context of Kuwaiti-Syrian relations. During the visit, he held official talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, affirming Kuwait’s steadfast and supportive stance toward Syria, its people, unity, and full sovereignty over its territory.

Formal diplomatic ties between Kuwait and Syria were established on October 24, 1963, with Syria opening its first embassy in Kuwait. This was soon followed by the opening of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Damascus, marking a new phase of constructive cooperation and joint coordination on Arab and international issues. Over six decades, these relations have witnessed fruitful collaboration across various fields.

However, between 2012 and 2024, relations were interrupted due to the security situation in Syria. On March 15, 2012, Kuwait announced the closure of its embassy in Damascus, in line with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) position and due to deteriorating security conditions. Kuwaiti diplomats were instructed to leave Syria, and remaining Kuwaiti citizens were urged to depart swiftly.

On December 30 of last year, ties witnessed a significant development with the visit of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya to Damascus in his capacity as Chairman of the GCC Ministerial Council—a step reflecting the GCC’s commitment to regional security and stability. Following his meeting with Syria’s new head of government, President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Al-Yahya stated that the visit delivered a message of solidarity from the GCC, affirming its unwavering position on the importance of preserving Syria’s unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and rejecting external interference in its internal affairs.

HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince, and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah meet Syrian officials during their visit to Kuwait.

Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah waves goodbye to Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. — Photos by Kuwait’s Amiri Diwan and SANA / AFP

Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah welcomes Ahmed Al-Sharaa at Bayan Palace in Kuwaiti City on June 1, 2025.

He also noted that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had directed the provision of urgent food and medical aid to the Syrian people in response to the pressing humanitarian situation. That same day, Kuwait launched the first flights of a humanitarian air bridge to support the Syrian people, in line with Kuwait’s leading humanitarian role and its commitment to alleviating suffering and expressing solidarity with Syrians.

The Kuwait Red Crescent Society, tasked with managing the air bridge, stated that the aid aims to address shortages in supplies and provide basic necessities to help Syrians meet their daily living needs.

Over the past decades, leaders and high-level officials from both countries have engaged in reciprocal visits, including delegations of businesspeople and investors, with the goal of strengthening cooperation across sectors, sharing successful experiences, and exchanging expertise to advance development in both nations.

Kuwait and Syria are linked by numerous agreements and memoranda of cooperation, particularly in the economic, commercial, scientific, and technical fields. Since 1969, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has financed several development projects in Syria, especially in transportation, water, energy, industry, and communications.

Syria also contributed to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991 by dispatching troops as part of the international coalition in implementation of United Nations resolutions. Kuwait, in turn, has repeatedly affirmed its support for Syria’s efforts to regain its occupied Golan Heights.

Kuwait took a clear stance on the Syrian crisis that began in 2011. It called, through the UN Security Council, for an end to war crimes, the facilitation of humanitarian aid delivery, and the lifting of sieges on civilian areas. Kuwait expressed grave concern over the continued use of heavy and internationally banned weapons against innocent civilians. It strongly condemned the forced displacement of the Syrian people and repeated attacks on medical facilities and civilian infrastructure, including airstrikes. Kuwait has stressed the need for international action to end the violence in Syria. Kuwait hosted the first three international donor conferences to support the humanitarian situation in Syria in 2013, 2014, and 2015, raising significant pledges—over 90 percent of which were fulfilled. In February 2016, Kuwait co-chaired the fourth donor conference with the UK, hosted in London, focusing on Syria and support for neighboring countries bearing the burden of the crisis.

Kuwait has continued to participate in subsequent donor conferences, most recently the Brussels Conference hosted by the European Union in March this year. The conference was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and featured high-level international, Arab, and regional participation.

Through KFAED, the Kuwait Red Crescent, and various Kuwaiti charities, Kuwait has provided significant humanitarian aid to displaced Syrians inside the country and to refugees in neighboring countries, especially Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Over the past five months, Kuwait has reaffirmed through numerous statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs its consistent position supporting Syria’s unity and full sovereignty. It stressed the importance of international solidarity and stepped-up humanitarian and development efforts to support the Syrian people and ease their suffering.

On December 9, 2024, Kuwait condemned the Zionist entity’s occupation forces’ takeover of the buffer zone on the Syrian border, calling it a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions. On May 2, it also condemned an airstrike launched by those forces near the presidential palace in Damascus, again calling it a clear violation of Syrian sovereignty.

On May 13, Kuwait welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement lifting sanctions on Syria. On May 21, Kuwait welcomed the European Union’s decision to lift economic sanctions on Syria, describing it as an important step toward rebuilding the country and meeting its people’s aspirations for development and prosperity. — KUNA